“Diane Mullin, associate curator at the Weisman and former MCAD/Jerome Fellowship director, makes the case for rethinking how fellows’ work is presented, calling into question the continued relevance of the traditional model of annual exhibitions.”

“When naming of a few of your favorite things you probably don’t always think of bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens, or even whiskers on kittens. Instead, perhaps a few of your favorite things include artwork by local artists Xavier Tavera or DC Ice. If that is the case, then you are in luck.”

Comic horrors: Plastic surgery and the ravenous dead“…Plastic-surgery-themed horror stories are few and far between. This year, a local illustrator named Will Dinski put out a small, very appealing graphic novel called “Finger Prints,” addressing the subject. In brief, the story tells of a philandering plastic surgeon, his movie-star clientele, and an assistant who has figured out how to simplify the process of remaking a human face, with disastrous results.”

“Movie theaters around town are starting to heat up with releases of potentially Oscar-nominated films. Whether their creators end up thanking or cursing the Academy, many of the films being released this month will surely find their way onto end-of-the year top ten lists.”

“Ben and I ended up covering a lot of ground during our chat, musing on everything from his recent European tour with Carrie Rodriguez and forthcoming duets album to his thoughts on vinyl, songwriting, and more.”

“Dark Dark Dark returned home to the friendly confines of the Cedar Cultural Center on Wednesday night and delighted the near-capacity crowd with their stirring, deeply affecting style of chamber folk.”

Twin Cities actor James Craven was chosen to participate in the 2011 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program. He’ll join nine other actors from around the country for an intensive weeklong class with Olympia Dukakis in July in Wisconsin.

“…In the Middle Ages in England, there were mystery plays. These were communal events telling tales from the Bible, performed by artisan guilds on the back of decorated carts called ‘pageants.’ And, amazingly, one has been kicking around the Twin Cities for more than two decades, in one form or another.”

“The Broadway League study found that international and domestic tourists accounted for 63 percent of the roughly 12 million Broadway admissions from June 2009 through June 2010… The report also found that two-thirds of Broadway audiences were female, a new high. The study says almost 70 percent of theatergoers who made the purchasing decisions were female.”